Perhaps the Taurus is not as good as a custom job, but of course, it has no right to be! Itsounds like a nice PROCUCTION-LINE example, however! Many people bad-mouth Taurus products, and there may have been a time when the Taurus was not so good. I don't know, as I've only owned one Taurus, a Raging Bull .454. My hunting buddy has one too, and shooting his is what made me buy mine. Both of these are excellent revolvers-every bit as well-finished andaccurate as any S&W or Colt I've ever owned.In additon, that shock-absorbing grip and the muzzle porting tames the recoil to feel no worse a level than any .44 Mag. I've fired.